“What!” Tom almost jumped out of the cab.
ARV UNDER SUSPICION 113
“This man is our chief modelmaker. He built the scale replica of this plant!”
Hanson was speechless. Hank Sterling leaned over, angry and puzzled.
“Why can’t he be admitted?”
“His security clearance papers haven’t come through from the FBI,” replied the guard. “I don’t care who he is. He doesn’t get through this post. We received clearance for you and Tom Swift Jr., but not for Hanson.”
Tom swung open the door and leaped to the ground. He realized that the sentry was doing his job as directed and would not give in.
“Give me your sentry phone,” Tom requested in a firm but polite tone.
He called the plant office and spoke to his father. In a short time Mr. Swift arrived at the gate.
“I know nothing about any of this, Tom!” declared the elder inventor. “I can’t understand it! We requested clearance for all three of you.”
Tom could no longer restrain his impatience. He jiggled the telephone hook.
“Get me long-distance,” he told the operator, beckoning to the security guard to listen in on the call.
He explained the urgency of the call and received an immediate line to Washington. A check with the Federal Bureau of Investigation revealed that all three sets of clearance papers had been sent by them. Dashing back to Hanson, he said:
“You’re in the clear, Arv. Washington is tele—
114 TOM SWIFT AND HIS GIANT ROBOT
graphing confirmation immediately.” The young inventor looked grim. “But it doesn’t explain what happened to your papers. I wonder if our enemies could somehow have gotten hold of them just to delay us?”